Ukraine soldiers 'allowed to use arms' following first death

Published : 2014-03-19 11:35
Updated : 2014-03-19 11:35

(AFP)

Ukraine's defence ministry said on Tuesday its soldiers were "allowed to use arms" after suffering their first casualty in Crimea since Russian and pro-Kremlin troops seized the peninsula nearly three weeks ago.

"For their self defence and protection of their lives, Ukrainian servicemen... deployed in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea are allowed to use arms," the Ukrainian defence ministry said in a statement. (AFP)